Letters to the Editor 4/22

Quit the bickering

Just a comment regarding the article titled “State legislators earn a merit badge in rancor,” printed April 17.

Voters, please remember we are paying these people to waste their time on this type of bickering. What in the world does this have to do with the economic problems in this state? They are supposed to be solving our problems, not creating on-the-floor fights.

Ann Bergstresser

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Stop and think

I would like all of us Americans to pause and take a deep breath as we enter yet another election season. Yes, there are a lot of issues pending for Americans to decide. But we need to realize we are all Americans, members of a unique democratic country, so we can have differences of opinions but we must respect all opinions without questioning a fellow American’s patriotism.

As a baby boomer myself, raised by two U.S. Army veterans of the “Greatest Generation” who made sacrifices for all of us, I must now request that all of us think of those kids being raised now because our educational system needs attention. Perhaps those companies who received taxpayer bailouts should donate their bonuses for the next two years to a special fund for all American children to remain competitive in the future.

Donald S. Douglass

San Luis Obispo

Banding together

I have another take on Marianna Hargrave’s “Just fish in a tank” letter (April 4). From the beginning, humans have banded together to take care of their tribe, team, community, country, etc. If we hadn’t, we probably wouldn’t be here today.

Has she ever had to be on unemployment or welfare? Is she on Social Security or Medicare? What about clean water, police and fire safety services and national defense? We’re all fish in some tank or another and if we don’t take care of each other, we’re really up a creek. Oh, and don’t forget the Golden Rule!

Helen Anderson

San Luis Obispo

May is Bike Month

Once again after a long winter, it is time to dust off your bikes and start riding in the glorious Central Coast sunshine. Nationally, May is Bike Month.

In the Five Cities area, we are starting Bike Month with a kick-off event Saturday, May 1 at Branch Street Deli in the Village of Arroyo Grande from 1 to 4 p.m. Incredible raffle prizes will be provided by Ira’s Bike Shop, Lezyne.com and the New Belgium Beer Company for those who ride their bikes to the event. So come out and enjoy the band, good food and the possibility of bringing home some free swag.

For more information, call 781-1385 or e-mail Kelsie Greer at kgreer@rideshare.org.

Jim DeCecco

Pismo Beach

Responsibility

Social justice is about everyone having a right to health care and the right to have clothes, shelter and food. Education, school lunches, medication and child care are certainly basic needs too. Have I missed something? What about responsibility?

Responsibility to feed your own children and pay your share for the use of all the government services and other national amenities. Basically that means paying taxes. It has been noted that a full 43 percent of our citizens do not pay income taxes.

And before we blame the rich, the top 1 percent wage earners pay a full 40 percent of all the taxes collected by our government. Taxes that pay for all too many who don’t pay for any of their own needs. Personally, I’m tired of everyone thinking they have a “right” to anything that they don’t pay for while fewer and fewer of us are paying their bills.

Our nation is drastically in debt. There is only one way to continue to give away entitlements: more taxation. And sooner than you think possible, there really will be an equal distribution of wealth and it will cost us the bankruptcy of a great nation. We all lose.

Donna Long

Arroyo Grande

Cherish Lynem

While some letter writers to The Tribune constantly go pro/con on national columnists, The Tribune has a unique true voice in Julie Lynem. Her column on racism (“College racial pranks reflect adult ugliness,” March 28) was poignant, in the best sense of the word, and telling and touching. I urge all readers of The Tribune to cherish Julie Lynem’s column on Sundays.

Pat Sullivan

Nipomo

Try being open

Many of us are now spending long hours worrying about the condition of our government. An important part of our mutual frustration rests in the difficulty we have in learning the truth.

In Pismo Beach, our city government has solved at least part of the communication dilemma by being totally open with our people and completely exposing important city efforts to public scrutiny.

For example, our city council recently held its usual updating and fine-tuning of the city’s goals. These goals were done in a public meeting, followed by the regularly televised council meeting that was re-broadcast on channel 20 and the goals may be printed in the next edition of the “Clam Chronicle.” Repetition may aid understanding.

Several Pismo Beach goals have importance outside our city limits. Nearing completion is an ocean water quality analysis that will be useable to correct problems on many county recreational beaches. Our council is pioneering an effort to solve bluff erosion problems and that will surely be applicable in other county areas.

Other goals meet state mandates to improve affordable housing stock and fix storm management concerns. All of the state city goals are needed, in my opinion. Those who live or work in Pismo Beach should pay close attention to city government activities. Those who live elsewhere in our county should carefully watch our progress — and catch us if you can!

Art Anthony

Pismo Beach

The next takeover

In response to Jay Bonestell’s letter, I too hope there are many good people in America today who feel like the worried Jews of Germany in the early 1930s (“Tea Party hatefest,” April 4).

I am seriously worried when I see the government taking over and running the major banking and investment institutions in the United States, taking over and running General Motors and Chrysler, taking over and running the student loan program and taking over and preparing to run the entire health care industry.

What concerns me even more is that our media are not concerned because they are likely to be the next takeovers. A free press is the biggest threat to a government run amok.

Jim Vint

Nipomo

Honor in sports

It’s doubtful that people other than golfers watched the recent PGA event at Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, where Brian Davis, an Englishman, called a 2-stroke penalty on himself during a playoff, thus costing him the tournament, plus some money.

Compare that with one NBA player being suspended for one game, and another being fined $25,000, probably about the amount they are being paid for one game. Any questions about honor in sporting events?